Synthesis of well-dispersed Pt/carbon nanotubes catalyst using dimethylformamide as a cross-link

In synthesizing carbon nanotubes supported catalysts, a significant challenge is how to deposit metal nanoparticles uniformly on the surface of carbon nanotubes due to the inherent inertness of carbon nanotube walls. This study reports a facile procedure using N,N-dimethylformamide as a dispersant, ligand and reductant, with which Pt nanoparticles can be deposited uniformly on pristine carbon nanotubes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements reveal that metallic Pt nanoparticles are successfully prepared with this method. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses confirm the formation of face-centered cubic crystal Pt particles with a size that ranges from 2.0 to 4.0 nm. The support-dependent catalytic properties of the prepared Pt catalyst are characterized by cyclic voltammetric studies of the formic acid electro-oxidation reaction. The results show that a pristine carbon nanotubes supported Pt catalyst has a higher catalytic activity than both carbon powder and modified carbon nanotubes supported catalysts.